Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
PERSONAL VITAE
Timeline
Hi, I’m

HITESH PATEL

Crop Protection Professional
AHMEDABAD
HITESH PATEL

Summary

Seasoned professional leader with over 22 years of experience in Sales & Marketing, Strategic Business Planning, and Business Development within the Crop Protection & Seeds industry across diverse agro-climatic zones in India and Nepal. Currently serving as Vice President of Marketing at Dharmaj Crop Guard Limited (DCGL), driving substantial growth and enhancing organizational sales and profits. Demonstrated expertise in market analysis, product development, and lifecycle management, coupled with a strong ability to cultivate relationships with customers, channel partners, and market operators to adapt to evolving trends. Results-oriented leader skilled at aligning business strategies with regulatory requirements while leveraging exceptional organizational and communication skills to inspire and manage high-performing teams. Accomplished senior management level with progressive industry background and decisive leadership style. Offers strategic planning abilities, background in change management and forward-thinking mindset. Ready for challenges and focused on meeting future demands. Talented Vice President with excellent employee development, customer service and analytics skills coupled with more than 22 years of experience. Comfortable giving engaging presentations to clients to drive new business, expand accounts and establish brand profile. Excellent team builder and leader of initiatives.

Overview

22
years of professional experience

Work History

Dharmaj Crop Guard Limited
Ahmedabad

Vice President S & M
09.2022 - Current

Job overview

  • Reforming the sales organization into a marketing-driven organization by leading the DCGL group in global and domestic agrochemical markets, with Rs 530 Cr to plan for Rs 2000 Cr by the year 2030, by shaping the most profitable organization.
  • Honored with Best Agro Chemical Company in Agrochemical Domestic Markets in 2024.
  • To create a product portfolio that is evolving according to the 2030 strategy by developing a joint venture with an R&D-based MNC, we initiated the R&D as well as the Product Development team process for 9(3) registrations.
  • Develop Track & Trace and other digital initiatives for improving DCGL internal employees' efficiency.
  • Key contributor for expanding South and East S&M operations to achieve a target revenue of Rs 414 Cr in 2025-26.
  • Identification of crop, product, and channel strategy for preparing a road map for 2030.
  • Farmer campaign for improvement in yield - “Chalo Khet - Fieldostav” works with farmers for their crop yield benefits, Happy Healthy Hindustan - driving nutritional business with emotional bonding with farmers and retailers.
  • CSR with more than 1,050 schools and 105,000 students from 21 states – “Ek Kadam Saksharta ki Aur.”
  • LATAM, Europe, and Greater China - Dharmaj - the next journey planned and executed - in 2025, there will be good news announced by DCGL.

Sulphur Mills Limited
Mumbai

Vice President Marketing
04.2021 - 08.2022

Job overview

  • Reforming the sales organization into a marketing-driven organization by leading the SML group in domestic markets with Rs 600 Cr to plan for Rs 1000 Cr in the current year by shaping a more profitable organization by leading more than 500 companies and 800 contractual team members.
  • Project Lakshya - KPMG and SML Group partnering and steering the projects from good to great, revenue enhancement, and cost optimization at the group level.
  • Krishinova - Complete farming value chain ONE-STOP solution - Seed to harvest, and animal husbandry.
  • Introduce more than eight products and three own products since last year. Increase the revenue by 8 %.
  • Established a strategic and operational marketing vertical to prioritize a customer-first and direct-connect approach.
  • Establish the field marketing concept by the 3E model: Execution, Efficiency, and Effectiveness.
  • Crop protection, crop nutrition - strategies have been redefined and implemented at the field level.
  • Preparing for the Plant Health Business launch very soon...
  • 28 Mega launches in 30 days in 14 states - its industry benchmark, with more than 6,000 retailer participation.
  • Introduce the 'Krishinova' first kind of farmer service model with the most innovative features: soil testing, farm service, drone spray services, and helping farmers with all services at their doorstep through a simple mobile app.
  • CRM and digital initiatives to improve the width and depth of retailer wallet share.
  • Introduce product selling to portfolio selling with Crop and its diversification portfolio.
  • Collaborate to ensure the One Team - One Goal theme with Product Development, Registration, R&D, and Supply Chain to deliver results that synchronize harmony for the next decade.
  • Pioneer in shaping the scientific advisor into a marketing panel to improve liaison with the agri-allied sector and improve our internal team capabilities.
  • Introduce the train-the-trainer concept to help our internal team develop and train the internal field team.
  • Design SOPs to improve efficiency, either in business or day-to-day marketing operations for everyone.
  • Secured 1st position - FICCI - Most innovative products, technology, and services for Indian farmers - 2021.
  • Supervised proposal development in response to RFPs within rural market.

BASF India Ltd.
Mumbai

Head - Digital Excellence
01.2010 - 03.2021

Job overview

  • Accountable for all digital initiatives for Farmer, Channel, E-commerce Marketing - Southeast Asia - AgShop - Customer portal, Salesforce - CRM, Golden Circle - Secondary Channel CRM.
  • Marketing Manager for the Gujarat and Rajasthan BU - Rs 100 Cr - responsible for short- and long-term business execution and product development for focus crops.
  • Managing sales and marketing of Rs 58 Cr with a 20% CAGR in India's most competitive markets of Telangana and part of AP.
  • Channel Performance Management and Segmentation - regional project - leading for India in the Asia Pacific project.
  • Castor Sustainability Project 'Pragati' - leading for BASF SE (Germany), Arkema (France), and Jayant Agro (India).
  • Demonstrated excellence in developing www.samruddhifarmers.com, www.forecast-assistant.com, www.i-connect.com, and preparing BASF India AP division for digitalization.
  • Holds the distinction of being the Global Project Maglis, Global Agri IT Project Lead for India.
  • Honored with:
  • Digital GTM for farmer outreach - A paradigm shift - Team Excellence Award - 2020
  • Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
  • Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
  • Golden Circle - Team Excellence Award - 2017
  • AgCelence - AP Asia Award in 2011
  • Innovation Award - Business Innovation - Tuber Day Demo Kit in 2010 & 2011
  • Innovation Award - Process Innovation - Success Program - Beyond Boundaries in 2011
  • Jan 2021 - April 2021: Head of Digital Excellence - South Asia.
  • Jan'20 - Dec'20: Marketing Manager - Gujarat & Rajasthan (West India)
  • Jan'18 - Dec'19: Business Cluster Leader for Telangana & AP (South India)
  • Jan'16 - Dec'17: Lead - Channel Marketing & sales Excellence
  • Jan'14 - Dec'15: Head Efficiency & Differentiation (PAN India)
  • Jan'13 - Dec'13: Head - Reach Expansion (PAN India)
  • Jan'10 - Dec'12: Sr. Marketing Executive (North - East India & Nepal)

Monsanto India Ltd.
Vadodara

Sales Manager
11.2007 - 12.2009

Job overview

  • Honored with Outstanding Performance Awards in 2009 (India level).
  • Increased sales revenue by Rs 2 Cr to 4 Cr developing and implementing effective sales strategies.

Bayer Crop Science Ltd.
Junagadh

Territory Manager
02.2004 - 10.2007

Job overview

  • Accredited with Rapid Reorganization Awards - 2008 in Govt. Affairs.
  • Successfully launched Folicur in 2007 & Admire in 2006
  • Received Man of the Region Award-2006 (West Zone)
  • Achieved highest sales of Larvin 2006 with Cotton runner up.
  • Played a key role in achieving outstanding results in Confidor Sales 2004 & Regent SC & Gr in 2005
  • Attended TV Talk on E TV Gujarati in “ANNADATA” program for farmers, that included:
  • Mango Stem Borer & its management
  • Coconut: Eriophyid Mite & its chemical control
  • Onion: Post Harvest Management

Education

IIM
Lucknow

Executive MBA from Global Business Management Program
01.2011

University Overview

Gujarat Agricultural University
Junagadh

M.Sc. from Agricultural Entomology
01.2004

University Overview

Gujarat Agricultural University
Junagadh

B.Sc. from Agriculture
01.2000

University Overview

Skills

PERSONAL VITAE

PERSONAL VITAE
Date of Birth: 2nd November 1977

Timeline

Vice President S & M
Dharmaj Crop Guard Limited
09.2022 - Current
Vice President Marketing
Sulphur Mills Limited
04.2021 - 08.2022
Head - Digital Excellence
BASF India Ltd.
01.2010 - 03.2021
Sales Manager
Monsanto India Ltd.
11.2007 - 12.2009
Territory Manager
Bayer Crop Science Ltd.
02.2004 - 10.2007
Gujarat Agricultural University
M.Sc. from Agricultural Entomology
Gujarat Agricultural University
B.Sc. from Agriculture
IIM
Executive MBA from Global Business Management Program
HITESH PATELCrop Protection Professional